"Did you pack your underwear?" Tamiko-san asked me for the billionth time.

"YES I DID," I answered, irritated. Why did she always treat me like a baby? I was sixteen, for God's sake.

"Toothbrush?"

"Of course I did."

"What about your lady supplies?" she asked teasingly.

I felt my face burn and knew I was blushing.

"Yeah, yeah, I got that too, okay?"

xXx

I sat in the living room, all packed up and ready to leave, but Haru was late. As always.

"Mitsuki," Tamiko-san said hesitantly.

I sighed. "What?"

"No, no, I'm not trying to nag you or stop you. It's just… Why do you have to go all the way to The Hidden Leaf? Why not just stay near our village? Enroll in the Hidden Rain Village..?"

I stopped her before she could continue. "I can't."

"But-"

"No, listen," I tried to reason with her, "The Hidden Rain doesn't have a great reputation. I doubt there'd be many jobs, and I seriously doubt I'd be able to find Nagato through the Hidden Rain. It's isolated."

She nodded silently, and I looked away, staring out the window. I was excited and scared at the same time. What would it be like? Would the Hidden Leaf even accept us? We didn't have much experience… or any, for that matter.

My eyes flicked to one of the streets. I could just make out a blond boy wearing a T-shirt and shorts carrying a backpack running towards our house.

"Finally!" I scoffed, standing up.

"Mitsuki," Tamiko-san called to me again. This time, though, there was something different about her voice.

I looked over at her. She stood up and walked towards me.

"I love you."

I grinned at her. "I love you too!" I said as I wrapped my arms around her neck.

"Be careful!" She said.

"Don't worry, I'll be back as soon as I find Nagato. In fact, you'd better set the table for three that day, 'cause he's going to be there too! I'm gonna bring him back!"

She pulled away, placing her soft hands on my shoulders.

"Yes, you will."

xXx

I shut the door behind me and ran up to Haru, who had just arrived at our doorstep, panting.

"Finally, took you long enough!" I said, unable to control the huge smile that had spread across my face. Haru looked the exact same way I felt.

"Let's go!" he said, marching forward. I followed him eagerly. Suddenly a thought occurred to me.

"Eh, where are we going, exactly?" I asked him suspiciously.

"To The Hidden Leaf, DUH, you dumbass." He replied, looking at me with a face that said I was crazy.

I mirrored his expression at shot back at him, "Which way? I'm sure you're gonna get us lost anyway! Any plans? Did you even bother getting a map?"

"Oh yeah…" he said sheepishly.

I started stomping to the nearest market place.

"You know, Haru, you really have to start taking some responsibility. I'm starting to think that Tamiko-san was right! You are useless. I'm gonna have to do all the work around here then, I guess." I sighed dramatically.

"Stop being such a drama queen," he scoffed, "You know what's going to happen in the end, anyway. You're obviously going to get captured by some rogue ninjas, and then I'm obviously going to save you from harm, being like the amazing gentleman I am."

I giggled, "Thank you for your philosophy, it was great."

xXx

I still found it strange that Tamiko-san had let me go. I was only being petty when I started arguing with her. I never really expected her to say yes.

Haru and I had just travelled out of the boundaries of the village, starting our long journey. I had only brought the things I needed in a small bag. An extra change of clothes, my toothbrush, a flashlight, and other little gadgets. Also, my "lady supplies", as Tamiko-san had said.

Tamiko-san had insisted that I wear a dress, but I tried to make her see that wasn't logical at all. It didn't matter that I would look nice; I needed to be comfortable. Instead I chose some jean short and a loose white t-shirt. It was practical.

I sighed. It was so hot… and boring.

"Haru!" I spoke demandingly.

"What do you want?" he replied.

"Entertain me! I'm bored."

"Of course, You Highness," he said sarcastically.

A few minutes passed, and we kept walking.

"Well?" I asked.

"What do you want from me?" he moaned.

"Wanna race?" I asked mischievously.

"No."

"Awww, you're such a l-"

He took off running at full speed.

"HEY NO FAIR!" I screamed, sprinting after him.

xXx

"Haru," I said nervously.

"Mmm?"

"Haru."

"MMM?"

"Haru."

"WHAT?" He shouted angrily.

"It's almost dark," I stated, trying not to let my voice shake, "We should probably camp out now…"

"Nah, we're almost to the next village, we should be able to get there in another our. It won't be that late." He replied calmly.

"Haru… You know how I feel about the dark…"

"Yeah, 'cause you're a little scaredy-cat. Man up already. You're sixteen."

"Haru…" I let a bit of fear escape into my voice to make him feel guilty.

He sighed heavily just to prove that he was being reluctant.

"Only for you," he grinned.

Haru said stuff like that to me sometimes. I don't know if it could be called flirting or anything, because we were just friends.

We set up a tent that we would share, and I got inside. It was starting to get chilly outside, so I sat in my sleeping bag.

Haru stepped in and stretched, then laying down in his sleeping bag., staring up at the roof of the tent. I waited for him to say something, but he didn't.

"Are you having one of you're 'thinking' moments?" I asked him curiously. Sometimes, it was like he forgot the outside world and lived inside his own head.

He said nothing.

I shrugged and pulled the covers up, lying down. I had trouble getting up early in the morning anyway, so it would probably be best if I went to sleep.

Finally, after a few minutes, sleep started slowly reeling me in. I dozed off…

…

"Do you really think they'll let us in?"

I jumped and sat up. Haru was in the exact same position as before, but he was looking at me this time.

"Hmm. I really don't know. But we can try our best to convince them! I'm sure with my beauty, the Hokage will be more than willing to let us be Shinobi." I smirked.

He laughed. Reaching out, he twisted a lock of my hair around his finger.

"Hey, why do you always do that?" I asked him, curious.

"I like your hair. It's like fire. Bright… just like you."

"Wow, did you just give me a compliment? That was pretty deep too… You're not acting like yourself today, Haru." I laughed.

He didn't seem to find me amusing. He just stared at me.

This was getting kind of awkward...

I cleared my throat. "I'd switch hair with you any day, though. Yours is so thin and nice and wavy. Mine is so thick and curly. I swear, it's all over the place! The ribbons I try to use mostly break when I attempt to tie it!"

"People always think blondes are stupid though. At least you don't have to walk around with everyone assuming you're a dumbass. Of course, when you open your mouth though, they know you're one…"

I shoved his shoulder, relief washing over me. He was back to normal. That was really strange…

I yawned, arching my back.

"I'm tired, goodnight," I said, plopping down and squirming around until I was comfortable. Once I was in position though, sleep took over like a wave, drowning me.

xXx

"-up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!"

I groaned, "I don't need you to be my personal alarm clock Haru, shut your face."

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE-"

"SNOOZE!" I yelled, covering my head with my pillow.

Haru snatched my pillow away. "It's already nine o'clock! Our plan was to leave at six! I gave you three extra hours, "

I sat up. "How did you get up that early anyway?"

"I could barely even sleep last night! You were snoring the WHOLE GOD DAMN TIME!"

I shrugged, "It's not like I can control it."

"And half the time your feet were somehow IN MY FACE! I didn't know you smelt that bad."

I frowned, "I don't think I smell bad. I showered before we left."

"Maybe you should sniff your own feet, then tell me how you feel," he scoffed.

"Okay," I said, bringing my foot up and sniffing it thoroughly. "Just as I thought! I don't smell bad, you liar!"

"Oh Mi, you're so, so stupid."

"What? Why?"

He smiled softly before stepping out of the tent, calling out, "I already made breakfast, come on."

xXx

For the next few days, all was the same. We walked, ate, slept, walked, talked, walked, walked and walked. Oh yeah, and we also walked. We trudged through forests, swamps, deserts, and random little villages.

My thighs, shins and feet were all agonizingly screaming at me with every step. Of course, we couldn't take breaks, because Haru was in charge of that, and he never got tired.

"OK! Five minute break!"

I sighed, plopping down onto the soft dirt of the forest we were currently in and leaned on a tree.

"Ahhh, work out of the century!" I panted.

"You say that every time," Haru snickered. I glared at him.

"Look, I don't know how you're gonna become a Shinobi. You could have at least prepared before coming here. You're so freaking lazy, and can't even handle and strain." he chastised me.

"Oh, well I'm sorry I'm not as amazing as you, Oh Great One." I rolled my eyes..

"Okay, break's over, get up!"

"WHAT? That was only, like, five seconds!"

"Up."

"Ughhhhh."

xXx

"FINALLY." I said, looking up at the huge gates of the Hidden Leaf Village. "That took, like, a YEAR!"

"A week, actually," Haru corrected.

"Whatever," I said, running towards the gates.

Haru followed close behind me, and grabbed my hand. We looked at each other at the same time, and smiled.

Haru still clasped my hand tightly as we both ran through the gates of The Hidden Leaf Village.

I'm one step closer now, Nagato!

xXx

A/N

Hello readers, Olivia here! I hope you liked this chapter!

Ok, here are some things I must say:

You can probably tell that Haruto and Mitsuki are really close friends… but are they beginning a new and more profound relationship as more than friends?

I'll let you decide what you think for now! ;3

Please let me know if you think I put too much dialogue in my story, because I'm kind of unsure…

The next chapter will certainly be more exciting, because I will start writing in the actual Naruto Shippuden storyline! Finally, right? :D

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review, it helps me make my story better! Whether you have a compliment, a flaw, an idea, a question, a suggestion or even a PREDICTION, write down your thoughts!

Also, feel free to PM me if you want to talk about anything!

Sorry for this boring note and have a great day!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

-Olives